No parent should ever bury their own child. But thanks to a powerful,
dangerous drug, it is happening all too often these days.

In March 2017, Sherri Kent was forced to say goodbye to her 22-year-old
son, Michael. No matter what she wished she could have done, she was powerless
to save her son's life.

So now, Sherri is hoping that her heartbreaking story can help save other
people's children. In a emotional post on Facebook, she shared a picture of her
lying next to her dying son in his hospital bed.

"My son was not an addict. He made a mistake that cost him his
life," she wrote.

On March 21, Michael Kent from British Columbia, Canada died at the tender
age of 22. He had his whole life in front of him, but unfortunately, he lost it
to fentanyl, a strong opioid that is similar to heroin, but is 50-100 times
stronger. The drug is extremely difficult to properly dose, and only a small
difference separates the desired effect and an overdose.

According to the Calgary Police Department, Michael's case is not
isolated—the drug kills three to four people die every day in the province of
Alberta alone.

Michael's mother, Sherri, didn't just direct her message on Facebook to
Canadian parents, but to parents anywhere in the world where young people can
get fentanyl.

"I just want everyone to know that my son Michael overdosed on
fentanyl," Sherri wrote. "I just want to make everyone aware of the
epidemic that's going on right now that's killing 5-7 people a day in every
city in Canada."

Michael only needed to try fentanyl once for it to kill him.

He was out running errands when an aquaintance who offered him some
"really strong" heroin. First, he turn the man down, but a day later,
he decided to take him up on the offer.

The two men took the drug inside a store bathroom. But when the other man
saw how Michael reacted to the drug, he got scared and ran from the scene.

Twenty minutes later, the man came to his senses and returned with the shop
owner to unlock the bathroom door. Inside, Michael was unconscious and his lips
were blue.

"By the time the ambulance got there he was in cardiac arrest,"
Sherri told the CBC.

Michael had actually taken fentanyl. He was put on life support and died a
week later.

When Michael's mother realized that her 22-year-old son was going to die,
she gave him one last hug.

"They made me a spot on the bed where I could lay with my son and talk
to him," Sherri said. "This is where I told him I was still proud of
him."

It's probably only a small comfort to Michael's mom, but her heartbreaking
message on Facebook has now been shared more than 110,000 times.

Hopefully, it will help raise awareness about fentanyl and help prevent at
least a few overdoses of this dangerous drug.

Michael's story should not be forgotten. Please share his
mother's message with your friends on Facebook!